Strong conditions expected for Evason Phuket Race

by Sail-World Asia on 27 Jul 2005 Asia’s Green Season Regatta, the Evason Phuket Race Week positioned boldly in the middle of the southwest monsoon season appears set for strong sailing conditions as the regatta climaxes on Sunday.

At the commencement of tonight skippers briefing for the second annual Evason Phuket Race Week, Grenville Fordham, director of Race Week organisers Image Asia Events was all smiles.

Last year the conditions were not as strong as would normally be expected in late July, however the 19 boat fleet had some excellent racing and this year the fleet has grown considerably with at least 30 boats expected on Ao Chalong Bay tomorrow morning.

Over the last two days, winds have peaked at 15 and 16 knots from the southwest and now Thai weather forecasters are now expecting winds of 20 knots over the weekend...

Fordham explained ‘We will finish registrations in the morning but its clearly a strong fleet. .The stage is set for some excellent sailing, Clear skies, sunny, hot, and great breezes, building into the 20’s by

‘We are certainly pleased with our progress this year. Getting sponsors interested this year has been a major challenge,’ added Fordham. ‘It's a new event and island businesses are suffering badly from the huge downturn in tourism that has followed in the wake of last December's tsunami’.

Among the sponsor line-up for 2005 are the luxurious Evavdson Phuket Resort, the title sponsor for the event and the islands three marinas: Royal Phuket Marina, Yacht Haven and Boat Lagoon plus a number of marine businesses. In a very pleasing move the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta (Asia’s biggest yachting event) have pledged sponsorship support in a move that augurs well for future co-operation between yachting events in Thailand.

Detailed reports on the regatta from tomorrow at www.phuketraceweek.com